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LATEST: An elderly man has lost his fight for life after being bitten by a brown snake south of Ipswich on Sunday.

The 80-year-old, described by those who knew him as a "tough old bugger", was air-lifted to the Princess Alexandra hospital after the 1.5m snake bit him multiple times at his property at Wilsons Plains, 30km south of Ipswich.

The man passed away in the intensive care unit about midday on Monday.

The man killed the snake with a shovel, but the creature then inflicted two reflex bites on his wrist and ankle at his one-hectare property about 11am on Sunday.

Neighbour Eric Miles performed CPR on him at the scene until a CareFlight chopper arrived.

The victim was transported to the PA in a serious condition and on Monday morning was declared critical but stable, however he tragically passed away on Monday afternoon.

Mr Miles told the QT how he desperately tried to keep the man alive before paramedics arrived.

"I got there about 25 minutes after he'd been bitten and called the ambulance straight away," Mr Miles said. "I performed CPR on him for about 15 minutes until he started breathing again.

"He's a very determined man and likes to work and keep active. When I was doing CPR on him ... it's not as if you're working on a stranger. He was a tough old bugger."

The victim's wife was taken to the PA by their daughter on Sunday evening.

Nearby resident Paul Roderick said brown snakes were common in the area.

3AM: AN ELDERLY man is fighting for his life after being bitten twice by a brown snake at Wilsons Plains, 30km south of Ipswich.

Neighbouring resident Eric Miles told of how he desperately tried to keep the 80-year-old victim alive with CPR, after he was bitten on the ankle and wrist about 11am yesterday.

Mr Miles said the victim heard his dog barking outside his back door and went to inspect the noise, when he saw the 1.5m brown snake and killed it with a shovel.

"He called my house about 11am and said he'd been bitten by a snake he'd just killed and I went straight over," Mr Miles said.

"He's a tough old bugger and hadn't called an ambulance - they're old school and wouldn't even think of that.

"When I got there he was fine and walking around his house but about 10 minutes later had a turn and lost consciousness and stopped breathing.

"I got there about 25 minutes after he'd been bitten and called the ambulance straight away.

"I performed CPR on him for about 15 minutes until he started breathing again."

Mr Miles said he knew the man well and the pair had been neighbours for years.

"I'm a little bit drained - he is a good bloke and I had a fair bit to do with him," he said.

"My son also came to help and wrapped bandages around his ankle and wrist and by then he was not in a good way."

Mr Miles said the man moved to the Harrisville area after a lifetime of training racehorses.

The bite occurred on a one hectare property on the corner of Wilsons Plains Rd and Ellis and Jackson Rd, near Harrisville.